“What we’re able to execute right now is the running game and those three athletes have been pretty explosive,” Lanphier coach DON GOFF said.

“The (offensive) line has really cleaned up the holes. They are sustaining blocks better. It’s something we can always continue to get better at. The line has improved each week.”

The Lions were able to expand its offensive plays in a 54-38 loss to Chatham Glenwood Friday. A week before, Goff and the Lions abandoned the shotgun formation after a couple of bad snaps — one of which led to a safety against Southeast.

That got cleaned up between Weeks 2 and 3.

“Finally, last game, we could be under center or we could be in the gun,” Goff said. “Now we can utilize more and more of our athletes. It’s taken some time for the system to catch on.”

Cyclones coming along

While Sacred Heart-Griffin was without its top three running backs Friday — TREMAYNE LEE (ankle), BRIAN ADAMS (shoulder) and JOEY MILBRANDT (injured early in the game) — the Cyclones needed to rely even more heavily on junior quarterback SAM SWEETLAND in its game against Normal U-High.

Sweetland doubled — or better — all of his season statistics while completing 20 of 34 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns.

He’s now at 43-for-66 after three games for 727 yards, six TDs and one interception.

“Sam Sweetland can really sling it,” SHG coach KEN LEONARD said. “He's a heck of a player. We've got weapons. We've got to get them all back at once. We showed everybody we can throw the ball. It's slowly coming.”

Containment by SHS design

On several plays Saturday, Decatur MacArthur quarterback AMIR BRUMMETT had plenty of time to scan the field looking for a receiver, roll to his left, and roll back to his right. Springfield High defenders rarely pursued Brummett behind the line of scrimmage.

“That quarterback is as good as you’re going to see at running around and improvising,” SHS coach ROY GULLY said. “Our plan was to keep him in the pocket at all cost and I think 85 percent of the time, we did that. But he still got outside and extended the plays.”

MacArthur converted six of 10 third-down opportunities. But the back breaker was a fourth-and-18 from the Springfield High 22 early in the fourth quarter.

Brummett had plenty of time to survey the field and finally found RAY NEAL JR. in the front of the end zone. Neal held on just long enough before Springfield safety QA’RON HAWKINS hit Neal from behind, causing the ball to pop out. The ensuing extra-point kick put the Generals up 14-7.

Talk time

The Cyclones got back on track following its first CS8 loss since 2013 (later forfeited by Rochester for using ineligible players) with a 41-7 win over U-High Friday.

SHG receiver and defensive back SPENCER REDD said it was good to be back to normal.

“I wouldn't say we needed this but this is what our expectation is supposed to be every night,” Redd said. “We're supposed to dominate teams like we have in the past. This is the standard that we have every night.”

Injury report

• While speaking to reporters after Saturday’s one-point victory over the Senators at Memorial Stadium, MacArthur coach DEREK SPATES said that top running back IZAIHA JOHNSON missed the Week 2 win over SHG because he was sick. Then Spates caught a glimpse of Johnson walking to the northeast exit of Memorial Stadium and added, “You see those linebackers (SHG has)? Look at him," Spates said, implying that he wasn't going to take any chances playing his small running back against the Cyclones. "There he is right there. Look at him.” Johnson is listed at 5 foot 7 and 165 pounds.

• Rochester linebacker/fullback MIKE MCNICHOLAS (back spasms) is probable for Friday’s game at U-High while linebacker STEPHAN MCCREE (ankle) is questionable. Rochester coach DEREK LEONARD said running back ZACH REICHEN, who was taken off the field on a stretcher and admitted to a local hospital on Aug. 26, is doing much better. Reichen, who returned to the sidelines for Week 2 against Chatham Glenwood in a wheelchair, suffered a severely pinched nerve. Leonard said he expects Reichen back at some point this season.

• MATT LAUBER said his Southeast quarterback STUART ROSS (concussion) should be back for Friday’s game against Springfield High. The team is still awaiting word on TAY WILSON (leg).

Coaches poll

While it has been heavily referenced this season, the CS8 coaches preseason poll was erroneously never published in The State Journal-Register. It runs today on Page 18.

Balance not good

The Chatham Glenwood offense has scored 115 points in three games and has the Titans 2-1. But the Titans’ defense has allowed 115 points, albeit 63 to Rochester in a 43-point Week 2 loss.

“We haven’t played consistently enough as a unit yet,” Glenwood coach DAVID HAY said. “We’re starting three seniors. They’ve got to continue to grow and play more as a unit (and) tackle more consistently.”

Talk time II

Speaking of those picked-last Pioneers: “It's a tough league,” Johnson said. “We all knew that. We can play with some of these teams in this league. (Friday night’s 41-7 loss to SHG was) a good lesson learned how to play against a good team.”

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